Ghost-seeing actor

Swish!

As the long sword flies towards him with a swift motion—

Choi Mubaek immediately clashes his sword against the opponent’s, deflecting the blade effortlessly.

Srring.

The blade slides sideways—

At the same time, it strikes his opponent’s chest with the back of his sword.

Thwack!

[Ugh-]
The man stumbles, falling sideways in surprise.

Instantly, a blade flies toward Choi Mubaek’s face.

Reacting reflexively, he parries it, but someone behind him swiftly grabs his arms.

In a brief moment, the man realizes Choi Mubaek is no ordinary fighter, speaking in a trembling voice:

[Th-Then, surrender now!]

Choi Mubaek tilts his head back, leaning into the attack, and—

[Guaaah!]
The opponent’s nose gushes blood as he releases Choi Mubaek.

Quickly, Choi Mubaek escapes and strikes his opponent’s chest.

He then holds his sword horizontally, effortlessly pushing back the opponent approaching with a dagger.

The frontman topples backward.

Now, only three remain.

Completely terrified, they grip their swords, trembling.

As they close in on him, Choi Mubaek boldly advances, swinging his sword with swift, fluid movements.

It’s an intricate display that the eye struggles to follow.

[Where… where are you attacking from?]

Confusion sets in as the opponent is bewildered.

[Hieek!]

He sweeps the sharp blade over their heads.

As a handful of hair falls to the ground, the Japanese ronin panic and flee, dragging their unconscious comrades along.

On the ground, the swords they failed to retrieve lie abandoned.

Choi Mubaek approaches Lady Sun, removing the blindfold covering her eyes.

“It’s done.”

She surveys the surrounding area, nodding.

With her crimson lips barely moving—

“Thank you, brave warrior.”

Choi Mubaek flicks his lips, swallowing words he wished to say many times, finally speaking a single phrase.

His gaze is firmly set on her alone.

“I was worried I might die.”

“Because there were so many opponents?”

Lady Sun, unaware of Choi Mubaek’s true feelings, added with a puzzled expression.

“You must have been tired, so thank you for saving me. But how are you so strong?”

Choi Mubaek gazed intently at Lady Sun’s innocent face.

In that moment of complex emotions swirling within him, he spoke sincerely.

“It’s not about striking down, but about protecting. My swordsmanship is for protecting my people, which makes it strong.”

***

Pop!

Opening his eyes, he finds himself in a hospital room.

The feeling is still numbing.

The exhilaration of facing five opponents just moments ago is vivid in his mind.

It was truly unreal swordsmanship.

Unpredictable movements, skillfully handling the sword with ease.

And incredible speed that pierces through opponents.

He had some expectations for his abilities, being the king’s guard.

However, Choi Mubaek’s swordsmanship went beyond his imagination.

[I’m leaving now.]

A joyful voice broke through from the side.

In front of him stood Choi Mubaek and a young woman with long hair holding hands.

The woman was the Lady Sun he had seen in his dream earlier.

Their bodies radiated a dazzling light.

Choi Mubaek gave a respectful bow to Lady Taeju.

[Thanks to you, I was able to ease my regrets. Truly grateful. Now, I must leave.]

Beside him, Yi Junghyup also offered a bow.

[May you achieve enlightenment. And Lady Sun too.]

Choi Mubaek and Lady Sun smiled happily.

The wind as if their bodies were about to be carried away soon subsided.

In the hospital room, only the faint sound of beeping remained.

Taeju panicked and checked the old man’s breath.

“Did you pass away? Why?”

[You endured all this time, determined to wait for your lover. Now that you’ve met the one you’ve been longing for, you can finally close your eyes peacefully.]

Yi Junghyup patted Taeju’s shoulder.

[You’ve truly fulfilled his regrets. Well done.]

***

At the same time Choi Mubaek eased his regrets, Lady Sun also found eternal peace.

That longing gaze they shared still lingers vividly in memory.

The Court Lady and the Royal Guard

A long-awaited bond was finally formed, filled with joy that couldn’t be denied.

Even after returning home, Taeju couldn’t shake off the shock.

She used to view easing regrets as a bothersome task, something necessary to gain strength.

However, she now realized it was something far deeper.

“This is about unraveling the tangled threads of a person’s life. Just like how every individual’s life is like a unique work. Helping them find peace through their suffering has taught me far more than any struggle I’ve endured.”

Taeju murmured seriously.

“From this life’s story, I’ve learned and experienced various emotions.”

It was a truly valuable ability for an actress.

An actress, after all, lives the lives of others, portraying their emotions.

‘So, can I truly understand Choi Mubaek’s life?’

His desire to protect Lady Sun.

The emotions that lingered even after his death.

The dedication he put into mastering his swordsmanship to protect her.

“I need to test it.”

Borrowing a toy sword from Taehee, she stepped outside.

Under the bright full moonlit night.

In a secluded park, she held the sword with both hands, raising it upwards.

Swish!

The blade slicing through the air was terrifyingly fast.

Riding on the momentum, she swung the sword repeatedly.

Her lower body maintained a nimble balance, keeping up with her speed effortlessly.

Then it happened.

A breeze stirred, causing leaves to fall.

“I see.”

To Taeju, it felt as though time moved slower, clearly revealing the fallen leaves scattering with the wind.

She swung her sword quickly.

Swish, swish.

On the ground were only the scattered halves of leaves.

[Wow…!]

Yi Junghyup’s mouth was wide open.

[This is a true martial arts master level. No martial arts team could replicate something like this.]

Taeju’s expression remained calm.

Rather than admiration, awe-filled her.

Even the incredibly fast swordsmanship beyond sight.

The intense effort Choi Mubaek put into reaching this level.

Becoming the Greatest Warrior of Joseon must have required relentless effort.

What shaped him into such a formidable fighter was undoubtedly his resolve and dedication to protecting someone.

‘I will cherish it.’

Taeju made a vow towards Choi Mubaek, who had found peace.

‘The ability you passed on to me will not be wasted.’

***

The next day.

Taeju arrived at a film set near Gyeonggi Province.

After so long, everything felt unfamiliar.

A massive set recreating traditional Hanok houses and bustling marketplaces.

Numerous staff members working frantically.

The large equipment is being moved around.

“Seems like the set has improved. The hustle and bustle feel similar though.”

[You’ve been in films too? When?]

‘I acted once as a child actor. I was in a film when I was 9, playing a younger version of Seonwoo Hyun. But now I’m here as a stunt double.’

‘Since it’s a stunt double today, you won’t be delivering any lines, right? You practiced so hard at home.’

Upon arriving at the set, a pang of disappointment hit.

[Child actor, stunt double, supporting role, lead role… no role is insignificant. Even with a minor role, you can fully immerse in the acting, and if you can’t act, even a major role becomes laughable. Don’t confuse yourself into thinking you’re not acting because you only have a silhouette role.]

Yi Junghyup whispered into Taeju’s ear.

[Stay committed to your performance. Right now, delivering your performance 100% is the priority.]

Taeju felt a bit embarrassed like her thoughts had been exposed.

‘Yeah, I may be a silhouette double with no lines, but I chose to do this.’

Let’s give our all and show a performance without regrets.

“Let’s do our best! Fighting!”

[That’s the spirit. Always be confident on set!]

Seeing Yi Junghyup’s reassuring demeanor gave her strength.

As she regained her composure and stepped inside, she passed by an actress exiting the set.

The lead actress from Shadow Warrior, Yoon Soo-an, portrays the Queen.

A rising star in her twenties.

Her gentle double eyelids and jet-black, sleek hair were both pure and stunning.

Beside her, Yi Junghyup continued to gush with admiration.

[She’s insanely beautiful. Her face is kind, and her body is an S-line.]

‘…Such a pervert.’

Forget the reassuring statement earlier.

Scanning the surroundings, Taeju spotted the assistant director and approached to greet him.

“Good afternoon.”

“Taeju, you’re here?”

Park Udon nodded slightly.

“There was an issue with the costume, so it’s being fixed now. Please wait a little.”

“Sure, let me know when it’s ready.”

Taeju walked around the set, greeting everyone.

Despite their busyness, there was a curious expression on many faces due to the appearance of a newcomer.

After greeting various actors, she finally faced him.

Surrounded by a flurry of busy staff, Kang Jaeha seemed overwhelmed.

“Hello, senior. My name is Han Taeju. I’ll be performing as a silhouette double this time.”

Kang Jaeha raised his head.

His striking, deep-set eyes stood out, giving him an elegant look.

His slender, model-like figure was hard to miss.

“I heard a lot about you from the assistant director. Wow, we do have similar builds and heights. How old are you?”

“I’m 21 this year.”

“21? That makes you my younger sibling. How long have you been acting?”

“Not for long. I just started.”

Taeju kept her child actor experience hidden once again.

Starting fresh, she was fully committed to her acting journey.

Kang Jaeha scrutinized Taeju from head to toe.

“You don’t come by a figure as slender and well-built as mine very often. Do you do modeling or something?”

“Yes, a little here and there. But you can just speak casually.”

At Taeju’s words, Kang Jaeha burst into hearty laughter.

“Oh, no! You’re saying it’s burdensome when I try to be casual? Using honorifics builds walls, doesn’t it?”

“It’s not that—”

“Then I’ll treat you like a close younger sibling. Sounds good, right?”

Taeju quickly nodded in agreement.

‘Kang Jaeha is more lively than I expected.’

Kang Jaeha smiled brightly.

“Relax! Just because you’re working with a senior doesn’t mean you should be tense. Don’t worry, I take good care of my juniors.”

Taeju didn’t even have time to respond.

“Oh right, what was your name again? Han Taejun?”

“It’s Han Taeju.”

“Han Taeju… Han Taeju? Wait, are you the one?”

Kang Jaeha gave a knowing smile.

“The one who turned down the modeling gig with me.”

Taken aback, Taeju felt puzzled.

‘How does he know my name?’

“I recently shot a photoshoot with Yoon Jiho, and the photographer mentioned it. The original person scheduled for the shoot couldn’t make it due to personal scheduling conflicts.”

Kang Jaeha looked at Taeju with a smile.

“So, I was curious,” Kang Jaeha said with a mischievous smile. “What kind of person turns down a collaborative photoshoot with me, and how busy must they be to miss the schedule?”

“No, it’s not like that,” Taeju quickly replied.

Kang Jaeha watched Taeju’s flustered expression with amusement.

The reason Kang Jaeha remembered Han Taeju was simple: their chemistry with top idol Yoon Jiho during that photoshoot didn’t align well.

After a challenging shoot was finally completed,

the photographer, reviewing the results, commented:

-The original model had such a great vibe and appearance. It’s a shame.

That’s when Kang Jaeha realized.

The model initially scheduled to shoot with him wasn’t Yoon Jiho.

That’s why he had asked for the name in the first place.

He found it unusual. A nameless model turned down a photoshoot because of personal scheduling conflicts.

And now, here was that same model, standing in front of him.

Not just as a model, but as an actor.

“Was it personal scheduling that made you miss it? A film? A drama? Or maybe an audition?”

“No, I shot a short film,” Taeju responded.

“A short film? You’re serious about acting. That kind of mindset is good,” Kang Jaeha said, giving a sly smile.

“Do your best today.”

He lightly patted Taeju’s shoulder as he walked past.

The warmth left on her shoulder felt comforting.

A good feeling.